HOWARD Kendall's powers of persuasion famously convinced one current Everton club ambassador to ignore overtures from Liverpool and join the Blues.

Ian Snodin's co-ambassador, Graham Stuart, however, has revealed that Kendall persuaded him to reluctantly quit Goodison in 1997!

Stuart was signed by Kendall in the summer of 1993 from Chelsea, but after 161 appearances and 31 goals he was offloaded – reluctantly – to Sheffield United.

Stuart said: “He always took great delight in telling me that he bought me – and sold me as well. We've had many a laugh about that situation.

“I met him at the Logwood Mill and he said he didn't want to sell me, as simple as that. But he had a couple of guys at Sheffield United he wanted to bring in and the board wouldn't let him do the deal unless there was someone going the other way.

“It was a weird one. I had so much respect for the guy that even though I didn't really want to leave Everton I almost felt obliged to because he was the one who brought me here in the first place!

“I don't think the news of his passing has sunk in yet.

“But forget the football, forget the manager. First and foremost he was a terrific guy. He loved his players and we loved being with him.

“There was a much greater social element to the game in those days and he was integral to that.

“Whichever 11 he would send out on a Saturday would run through a brick wall for him.”

Stuart added that he and Snodin, now employed as club ambassadors, would often visit the former manager.

“He was brilliant company and myself and Snods would quite regularly go over to spend some time with him,” he said. “How many players nowadays would make a beeline and have a day out with their old manager? That's the kind of guy he was.”